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Chapter 99 - Chapter 99

Ryuuto's anger was a live wire.

Professor Xavier stood by the window, pale and exhausted, and Ryuuto cut through the silence. "If it isn't the end of the world, we don't abandon our home. Professor, this school is the result of decades of your sweat. Do you want to hand it over just like that? For many mutants, this place isn't a building—it's faith. If we let them burn that faith away, who will ever stand tall again?"

"I don't want war," Charles said softly.

"You don't want it, but they pushed us into a corner," Ryuuto snapped. "Cowardice only invites more cruelty. If we crawl away and hide, they'll chase and kill until they're satisfied. Their goal isn't just the structure—they want us erased. They'll sleep easy only when we're dead. Professor, enough patience. The time for forbearance is over."

Silence, then a slow exhale from Xavier. "Very well. I accept you as leader of the X-Men. You'll be given full command here. But there is one condition—you must not harm innocents."

Ryuuto's answer was immediate and raw. "I will kill those who attack us."

Xavier's face tightened. "Then how are we different from Magneto?"

Ryuuto's grin turned cold. "Back home in Japan we say: 'Those who trample my house must accept the consequences.' If they come to annihilate us, they will reap what they sow. This isn't vengeance for sport. It's survival. They started this."

"Well," Charles said, "that means all-out war."

"Then we'll fight to the end," Ryuuto said.

"Do you have the confidence to hold this place?" Xavier asked quietly. "They've mobilized more troops and better gear than before."

Ryuuto looked past the window at the calm sky, as if the quiet surface of the world could hide the engines of war. "Professor, is every person in this school a fighter now?"

"Yes," Xavier replied.

"Then that's our force. We'll make it count."

Xavier hesitated. "I will not be on the front lines. Take them with you. The right people will rise when needed. Evading fate is useless if fate comes for us all."

"Order the students to the lobby," Ryuuto said. "I'll assign roles."

Xavier moved. In under twelve minutes, the entire school had gathered in the grand lobby—faces resolute, fear contained but present. Xavier stayed upstairs, the old idealist torn between hope and sorrow.

Ryuuto scanned the crowd: Ororo Munroe (Storm), Scott Summers (Cyclops), Bobby Drake (Iceman), Jean Grey, Katie Dee, Natasha Romanoff, Susan Storm—familiar faces, fierce allies. He straightened and addressed them, voice steady but charged.

"Scott—first, I'm sorry for the chaos. Professor named me leader. From now on I'm captain of this team."

Scott nodded. "You're stronger, and you put mutant interests first. You're the right choice."

"The former co-leader was Ororo," Ryuuto continued, "and I'm keeping her in command on the field. I'm adding Scott and Natasha as captains—Natasha's officially with the X now. Trust them; I trust them. Here's the situation: an armored column of a thousand troops is approaching. Ten heavy tanks and five stealth bombers. Worst of all—three humanoid suits, Second-Generation models built from Scott Industries' tech. They're not as advanced as Gen-3, but their maneuverability and combat performance are lethal. Those humanoid suits are priority target one."

He paused to let the gravity settle in, then pointed at individuals. "Steel and Scott—you two are on tank-neutralization. Susan and Ororo, you take the bombers. Bobby, Jean, Katie—you hold the school defenses and manage civilian safety. Natasha, you handle recon and surgical strikes."

He fixed their eyes one by one. "Operation codename: X-0. This is our first official strike that declares we will not be annihilated. Work with precision. No mercy for the attackers."

"Repel or annihilate?" Ororo asked, voice like distant thunder.

"Wipe them out," Ryuuto answered, blunt and uncompromising. "They started this. We won't be soft."

A telepathic latch clicked—Charles connecting minds with Ryuuto.

"Ryuuto, they're close. Land forces are moving faster than expected," Charles said in his head.

Ryuuto frowned. Land forces first? "They should've sent bombers or humanoids first. Why land units?"

Charles's reply was clinical. They're using tanks as a distraction. The tanks will absorb your attention while bombers and humanoid suits strike from opposite vectors. Expect initial ground pressure before the aerial assault. The tanks are bait to draw your focus so they can level the building once you're committed.

Ryuuto's jaw set. "Understood. Steel and Scott, you prioritize tank columns and draw fire. Susan, join them—use forcefields to redirect and disassemble ordnance. Ororo and I will form a rapid-response team for bombers and humanoid suits."

"Got it!" Scott said.

Steel, Scott and Susan moved out together. Ryuuto flicked past Susan in a blur to stand before her—and the sudden appearance startled her.

He didn't smile. "I know you hate killing, but today we protect our home. You must decide what you stand for."

Susan met his gaze, breath steadying. Around them, the students braced, each heartbeat a promise. Outside, the first rumble of engines rolled like distant thunder. Inside, a ragged family readied for war.

Ryuuto closed his fist, feeling every pulse of resolve. "We won't run. We'll make them regret choosing annihilation."

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